Thread: Bulk tree planting??

I was asked to bid some finish grading and seeding today for a new business thats going in close to my house.

Well, as always the conversation turns to what else can I do for the general contractor thats in charge of this project.

The project has roughly 100 2" trees to be installed into the parking lot islands and around the whole property in general.

My question is, since I was asked to bid the tree portion of the project as well, what do I charge per tree to plant them. Just the planting, not the cost of the trees them self.

I have an employee that thinks we should charge half of what each tree costs to plant each tree. But, the general has asked for a per tree install cost, since the new business itself, sells trees and might want to supply them to us at thier expense

If you're just planting the trees then you will be exposing yourself to very little liability. However, if you have to warranty or maintenance the trees in anyway after install, you're pricing structure would probably change quite a bit.

You'll be a lot faster planting them with an auger rather than a digging with a mini ex.

I am planning on using an auger on one of my excavators to punch out the holes.

If I am supplying the trees, I am planning on doing some sort of a warranty on them, but I think that the company that we are bidding for will end up supplying all the trees and plantings.

I am planning on punching out the holes with the auger, throw in some fert, place the tree, backfill with some topsoil (Since the area we might work in is all fill clay) mulch, stake and water. Any extra watering will be done by us for a fee.

Alls I need is a number to start with. It doesn't take us all that long to plant a tree, so that $150 number seems super high. but then again, I did ask for numbers.

I charge local towns and homeowners $500 per 3 trees of 2"+ or more per tree if less. It gets to be a pain inthe ass for cleanup if there is existing lawn and what not. Besides, if you dig the hole and soil is crap, more topsoil, more fill trucked away, more cleasn up. The numbers sound great below these numbers I listed, but when all is said and done, it costs more than you think to do it right.

I'd put one guy in the mini ex with the auger, constantly augering holes, one guy in the skidsteer taking away excess dirt and bringing in good topsoil, one guy in another skidsteer with pallet forks setting trees, and one last guy helping set trees, stake them, etc. I'm thinking you should be able to set 50 trees a day this way, so figure out what you costs would be and price accordingly.

I am planning on using an auger on one of my excavators to punch out the holes.

If I am supplying the trees, I am planning on doing some sort of a warranty on them, but I think that the company that we are bidding for will end up supplying all the trees and plantings.

I am planning on punching out the holes with the auger, throw in some fert, place the tree, backfill with some topsoil (Since the area we might work in is all fill clay) mulch, stake and water. Any extra watering will be done by us for a fee.

Alls I need is a number to start with. It doesn't take us all that long to plant a tree, so that $150 number seems super high. but then again, I did ask for numbers.

J.

If you do warranty the trees, you can normally figure on 10% or less needing to be replaced. So make sure you factor that into your per tree cost.

I'm fully aware that $15,000 to plant 100 trees may be a bit high...depending on your market, but $7,500 is cheap. You're making money in your business - you'll figure out a price that keeps that trend alive.